the president hits a populist stride and pushes congress to act now. >> this is a make or break moment for the middle class and for all those fighting to get into the middle class. >> as republican candidates attack -- >> he will resort to anything. class warfare and demagoguery are powerful political weapons. >> and the ego has landed. >> you should be thanking me. i did the macro economic things necessary to make his career possible. >> ain't it rich? this hour, president obama and the canadian prime minister stephen harper are about to emerge from a meeting on board a security in trade to make a statement and take questions from reporters. there is the scene right now. this comes as tensions are rising between the two neighbors over the obama decision to hold off on approving the

controversial key stone oil pipe line until after the 2012 election. kristen welker is live at the white house. unions support this pipeline while environmental activists absolutely hate it. is this a trky dance for the president? especially after prime minister harper said it is not in his nation's interests to be a captive supplier of energy to the u.s.? >> reporter: that's right, martin. there is no doubt that this is a political lightning rod. remember, there were protesters outside of the white house for weeks over this issue. some of those protesters even attended some of president obama's events. so this visit by prime minister harper certainly shedding fresh light on this issue. as you remember, president obama and the prime minister discussed the key stone pipeline several weeks ago at the apex summit. it was at that moment that prime minister harper met with them afterwards and said this is an indication that canada has to increase its efforts to make

sure it's supplying energy outside of the united states. will the two leaders discuss the key stone pipeline issue today? perhaps it will come up. but likely won't be this central sort of focus of their discussions today. the real pressure points right now on this issue are coming from republicans on the hill who are trying to revive the issue and trying to get federal approval for this before the elections. but as it stands right now, this issue is not going to really be discussed until, through the november elections. >> and prime minister stephen harper also said that when we see some of the politics that are going on south of the border, he was making it clear, was he not, that in his view, the postponement, the delay of a decision may well have been a political one by the president. >> reporter: absolutely. this is something the prime minister understands well. and it doesn't appear at this

point at least that this is something the two will be focusing on intently during these two, during these meetings that they'll be holding today. you're absolutely right. the prime minister making it quite clear that this could be a political congratulations. of course, the state department who made the ultimate decision to put this off and postpone it until after the november elections. and also annul of analysts in canada who have been paying close attention to this issue say look, we understand where this is coming from. and at this point in time, they don't think that it will necessarily flame up again today. martin? >> let's turn to domestic politics. on the heels of his major speech tuesday, in which the president slammed republicans for being the party of the 1%, the white house today posted a scoreboard clock on its website. he says, if congress doesn't act, and then counts down how much time remains until taxes

will go up on the middle class, there is the clock ticking away even as i speak to you. today democrats took it one step further. with this message for house speaker john boehner and his fellow republicans. listen to this. >> there is some talk that speaker boehner next wednesday will throw us some kind of proposal and go home. don't go home, speaker boehner. we'll be here and you'll be embarrassed before the american people. >> it looks as though democrats are pretty united on this, doesn't it? >> reporter: they are, martin. and as a result of what you heard from chuck schumer, the house will stay in session next week until legislative business is completed. the majority leader eric cantedor's office informing members to speck to work next weekend if that's what it takes and possibly go closer to the christmas holiday. make no mistake about it, market, the president's speech yesterday, he was really trying

to show how much greed has gotten into the political system. how it has become in essence, really a very difficult america for middle class families to extend forward. democrats are hammering through that message every chance they have under this issue of the pay roll tax cut holiday. something that republicans have struggled to figure out where exactly they stand on it. their conference is still very divided in the house about whether or not to put forward the pay roll tax cut holiday extension. if that doesn't go forward, working americans will probably see an average of $1,500 disappear from their paycheck if it doesn't keep going forward. that issue is going to be tantamount to what needs to be completed on capitol hill with unemployment benefits. that issue that there is no real clear pathway forward. how exactly it will be paid for. harry reid tomorrow, rather, friday, it will get voted in the senate. we were supposed to see the republican plan this week. we still don't know what it will be. possibly we'll see it next week.

what we do know is we'll have another 11th hour long negotiated session, probably between harry reid, boehner and president obama. the message the president was saying yesterday in kansas about how the rich need to share a little bit, how we need to put working americans, put money back into their pockets, that message is really driving the democratic cause here on capitol hill. >> luke russert and kristen. thank you. to news on the penn state sex abuse investigation. this afternoon, former assistant coach jerry sandusky was rearrested. he faces a slew of disturbing new charges. 12 today on top of 40 previously. two more accusers have come forward. nbc's peter alexander has been following this every step of the way and he joins us now. and peter, as i understand it, they were originally a toll of eight accusers. this is now increased to ten. there is even mention of an 11th, is that right? >> reporter: yeah.

we are learning now from this new grand jury presentment of victims numbers 9 and 10 but in conversations during my time at penn state, we spoke to the attorney for one young man who says that his client is referred to by authorities as victim number 11. and that is be referring to more additional victims. these alleged victims have come forward to nbc news and other media outlets, as well as to authorities to tell their stories saying they found new courage to come forward after the arrest of jaierry sandusky. they were outraged, their words. they have been outraged by sandusky's continued denials. this video is from annul of hours ago. there you see the 67-year-old former coach. he is walking out in what is as an insult to the penn state communicate. a penn state track suit, as you will see when he turns the final image of him getting into that police car a short while ago work that penn straight brand across his back. >> these latest charges are

horrendous. i read of victim ten talking about an incident that occurred a swimming pool on the penn state campus. i mean, this does suggest, does it not, that the university and those around mr. sandusky must have known that something was amiss given the number of locations this individual is alleged to have molested children. >> well, let's begin by talking about the egregious nature of these new charges today. involuntary deviant sexual behavior, indecent assault, unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of minors and endangering the welfare of children. i want to pull out a quote that i just read in the grand jury presentment that was just sent to us moments ago. this was said by the ninth accuser who is currently 18 years old. who says he was just 11 or 12 when he first met jerry sandusky in 2004. after recording multiple assaults. at least 16 occasions that took place in the basement of the sandusky home. he says, quote, the victim testified that on at least one occasion he screamed for help,

knowing that sandusky's wife was upstairs. but no one ever came to help him. the question is not just what the university knew, but what the second mile, the charity knew, and even what jerry sandusky's own family knew. >> just a final question before we go. sandusky was originally granted bail, as you know. is it safe to assume that he will now be remanded into custody given the extent of these charges? and i'm assuming the fact that he must be a flight risk, given the term of prison that he may face should he be found guilty. >> having spent weeks there, i can tell you there is great outraining in that communicate. in the state college communicate that jerry sandusky has been until this point a free man. bail was set at $250,000 cash which means that mr. sandusky must pay that entire amount in order to get out. if he does in this situation, he would then get an ankle monitor. the prosecutors had asked for $1 million to be paid. when he was initially arrested,

it was set, his bail, unrestricted at just $100,000. what that men is that he didn't have to pay a dollar unless he didn't meet some conditions so he did not pay a dollar. only now by being arrested is there any likely hood that he will remain behind bars. his attorney denies that he did anything wrong and says that he is not a flight risk. >> peter alexander as always, thank you so much for your reporting on this story. next, we'll go live to president obama as he takes questions alongside canada's prime minister. [ woman ] my boyfriend and i were going on vacation, so i used my citi thank you card to pick up some accessories. a new belt. some nylons. and what girl wouldn't need new shoes?

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we're awaiting the president and canada's prime minister stephen harper. they've been in session meeting. they're expected to have discussed matters, including

trade and also the key stone excel pipeline which the president, this administration has postponed on a decision until after the 2012 election. kristen welker is live at the white house. and kristen, senate majority leader harry reid said the president will not be going to hawaii for his vacation but will stay behind in washington to get this pay roll tax holiday extension done. and of course, there is the issue of unemployment benefits. is the white house trying to use that to ratchet up pressure on republicans even more? >> reporter: i think to some extent, you heard valerie jarrett come out today and also reiterate those comments by harry reid. and as you know, we've been reporting on that countdown clock that the white house has put up in the briefing room. basically saying to congress, this is the amount of time you have left to get something done on pay roll. at a cuts and unemployment insurance. i think that undoubtedly, the white house is trying to put pressure on congress to get something done here.

it is unlikely that congress will leave, though, without getting something done. because the real pressure may be coming from their constituents. these are pocket book issues. a lot of these senators, members of congress, up for re-election next year, including the president. so it would sort of look bad all around. if lawmakers went on winter break without actually having some movement on pay roll tax cuts and unemployment insurance. the big question has been about how to fund this. with democrats saying, look, let's tax folks who are making a million dollars or more and then you have republicans pushing back and saying, not so fast. that could wind up hurting small business owners and adding to the deficit. so at this point in time it does appear that they're deadlocked. if you talk to folk behind the scenes, they say, everyone understands, they have to get a deal done. a matter of exactly what that final product is going to look like. and as we've been reporting,

martin, the pay roll tax cut extension, if it does expire, the average american family, average being households making about $50,000 a year, would wind up paying $1,000 more every year. so this is something that has real implications for a loe of americans and this is something that at least the leadership in congress understands that they want to get done. martin? >> we're hearing that the president and the prime minister of canada are expected to emerge at any moment. republicans are saying -- here they are now. there is the president and the prime minister of canada, stephen harper. >> good afternoon, everybody. please be seated. i am very pleased to welcome my friend and partner, prime minister harper, back to the white house. whenever we get together, it is a chance to reaffirm the enduring alliance between our nations, the extraordinary bonds between our peoples, the excellent cooperation between our governments and my close

personal friendship to the prime minister. stephen, i believe this is the 11th time that we've sat down and worked together, not including our many summits around the world. and on occasions like this, unfortunately, i only speak one language. stephen moves effortlessly between two. no matter we speak, we always understand each other. and stephen, i've got a trusted partner and i think he'll agree that perhaps no two nations match up more closely together. or are woven together more deeply economically, culturally, than the united states and canada. that deep sense of interconnection know our shared values, our shared interests, infuse the work that we have done today. from supporting a resolution to the euro zone crisis to moving ahead with the transition in afghanistan, from deepening security cooperation here in the americas to the supporting reform and democratic

transitions in the middle east and north africa. our focus today is on our highest priority. my top priority as president. that's creating a jobs faster and growing the economy faster. and in this mission, canada has a special role to play. as most of you know, canada is our single largest trading partner. our top export market. and those exports from cars to food support some 1.7 million good paying american jobs. canada in turn is one of the top foreign investors in the united states, and that creates even more jobs and prosperity. and the prime minister and i are determined not just to sustain this trade but to expand it. to grow it even faster so we're creating even more jobs and more opportunity for our people. canada is key to achieving my goal of doubling american exports and putting folks back to work. and the two important initiatives that we agree to today will help us do just that.

first we're agreeing to a series of cone kreet steps to bring our economies closer. not just along our shared border but beyond that border. put simply, we're going to make it easier to conduct the trade and travel that creates jobs and we're going to mac it harder for those who would do us harm and threaten our security. for example, some 90% of all our trade, more than $1 billion in trade every single day, passes through our roads, our bridges, and our ports. but because of old systems and heavy congestion, it still takes too many products too long to cross our borders. and for every business, either canadian or american, time is money. so we're going to improve our infrastructure. we're going to introduce new technologie technologies, all design to make the easier for our company to do business and create jobs. that by the way includes our

small businesses. which create most of the new jobs here in america and when they look to export typically, canada is one of the most likely places they are to start getting the foothold in the global economy. so it's hugely important for our small and medium size businesses. last year more than 100 million people crossed our shared border including lots of canadians who i note spend more money in the united states than any other visitors. so i want to make a pitch. we want even more canadians visiting the united states. and please, spend more money here. we want to make it easier for frequent travelers and our business people to travel and we're going to create a simplified entry exit system. i would add that along with better screening and sharing more information, this will help us be even smarter about our joint security. concentrating our resources where they're needed most. identifying real threats to our security before they reach our

shores. the second thing we're doing is we're ramping up our effort to get rid of outdated unjustified regulations that stifle trade and job creation. this is especially important in seconders like the auto industry where so many cars and products are built on both sides of the border. but sometime that slowed down by regulations and paperwork that frankly just doesn't make sense. so we're going to strike a better balance with sensible regulations that unleash trade and job creation while still protecting public health and safety. this builds on the efforts that we have here in the united states, led by, we're elittle nighting billion of dollars in billions in regulations. now our two nations will be going further. streamlining, eliminating and coordinating, and we'll focus on several key sectors. so this will be a win/win situation where not only are we our regulatory systems more

efficient in our respective countries, but we're also seeing greater convergence between our two countries. even as we pursue these two initiatives, the prime minister and i discussed our broader economic relationship. i am pleased that canada has expressed an interest in the transpacific partnership. many of you accompanied me to the apec meeting where you know this has general rated a great deal of interest. we look forward to consulting with canada as well as our tpp partners and others about how we can meet the high standards demand by this trade agreement. and i think it can be a great model for our region and the world. we did discuss the proposed key stone xl pipeline which is very important to canada. and i think the prime minister and our canadian friends understand that it is important for us to make sure that all the questions regarding the project are properly understood. especially its impact on our environment and the health and safety of the american people. i assured him that we will have

a very rigorous process to work through that issue. we'll continue to work as partners and as friends. and stephen, on this day and in all the discussions that we have, i want to thank you again for your candor, your sense of common purpose. what you bring, your team brings to this partnership. it has been extraordinary. and i want to personally thank you for the progress our team has made in these two very important announcements that we made today. i am confident, by the way, that we are going to implement them diligently. we have folks like secretary napolitano from darrel of homeland security and others who will be heading up the team and making sure that these things go into effect in a way that benefits both the canadian people and the american people. and so stephen, to all the people of canada, thank you. to you, thank you. and i wish everybody a wonderful holiday season. >> thank you, barack.

thank you for our candid conversation. we always appreciate that. we appreciate all work that has been done on this. i did mention bob hamilton, simon kept working on our side but do i want to thank the officials on both sides who have been working over very many months to do what is a very important initiative. and of course, i do want to thank you for your friendship. not just personally, but i know the friendship you feel for the entire nation of canada. and we all do appreciate it. today we are pleased to announce -- >> that's the prime minister of canada, stephen harper, transitioning beautifully from english to french. i'll bring back kristen welk here is at the white house. they've produced two new initiatives. one to bring our economies and the security together, talking about improving the time it takes to cross the border, and then the president talking about

ridding us of outdated regulations, particularly as they apply to the auto industry, agriculture, and health care. quite a sum today. >> reporter: you heard both leaders reaffirm the strong bond between the united states and canada. and of course, the issue that you and i have been about, the key stone pipeline, was addressed with president obama saying that they discussed the issue. it will be interesting to see what prime minister harmer has to say when he gives his remarks. as you know, republicans really hoping that he would reignite some of the pressure that he put on president obama during the summit several week ago, saying, look, the key stone pipeline would really benefit canada. so it will be interesting to see if we get more of a readout of what specifically was discuss in the regard to the key stone pipeline. as you know, at this point in time that has been sort of kicked down the line until after

the 2012 elections. >> yes. the president did say, didn't he? he said the prime of canada understands that all of the questions need to be understood, that there needs to be a rigorous process. both environmentally and in terms of its economic impact before a decision will be made. i was taken aback also by the object friendship that the two have. the president saying that this was the 11th time they've met together. and the prime minister thanking the president by his first name and repeatedly referring to him as barack. >> reporter: yes, i thought that was incredibly interesting as well. something we haven't heard in quite some time. analysts in canada who were previewing this trip talked about the fact that there has been some tension between the united states and canada because of this key stone pipeline issue. but that both leaders see each other as two of the closest

allies. so that was certainly something that we saw there today during that press conference. >> two segments, thank you so much again for joining us today. >> reporter: absolutely. next, newt gingrich. now the big star of the republican field. and he stars in our top lines. stay with us. how did i get here? dumb luck? or good decisions? ones i've made. ones we've all made. about marriage.

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look. this is a big project with big consequences. we've seen democrats and republicans express concerns about it. and it is my job as president of the united states to make sure that a process is followed that examines all the options, looks at all the consequences before a decision is made. that process is moving forward. the state department is making sure that it crosses all it's ts and dots think is before making determination. i think it is worth noting for those who want to try to politicize this issue that when it come to domestic energy production, we have gone all in because our belief is that we're going to have to do a whole range of things to make sure u.s. energy independence exists for a long time to come. u.s. energy security exists for a long time to come.

so we have boosted oil production. we are boosting natural gas production. we're looking at a lot of traditional energy sources, even as we insist on transitioning to clean energy. and i think this shouldn't be a democratic or republican issue. this should be an american issue. how do we make sure we have the best possible energy mix to benefit our businesses, benefit our workers, but also, benefit our families to make sure that the public health and safety of the american people are looked after. that's what this process is designed to do. >> i think my position, is position of the government of canada on this issue is very well known and barack and i have discuss that had on many occasions. he's indicated to me as he's indicated to you today that he is following a proper project to eventually take that decision in the united states. and that he is an open mind in regard to what the final decision may or may not be.

and i take that as his answer. you can appreciate that i would not comment on domestic politics of this issue or any other in the united states. >> [ inaudible ] that's something else on it? >> i think it's fair to say that if the pay roll tax cut is attached to a whole bunch of extraneous issues, not related to making sure that the american people's taxes don't go up on january 1st, then it is not something that i'm going to accept. and i don't expect to have to veto it because i expect they're going to have enough sense over on capitol hill to do the people's business and not try to load it up with a bunch of politics. >> i have leeanne goodman, canadian press. >> hi there.

prime minister, from suspect company like pakistan, even if they have no interception of coming to the u.s. under this new agreement? and mr. president, do you want to be warned? do you want that kind of information? >> we do, i think as you know, our two countries cooperate -- >> we've been watching a press conference with the president and the prime minister of canada, stephen harper. they've just been addressing the issue of the xl pipeline. the prime minister of canada saying he accepts the president's view that all options and consequences must be considered before he can offer a definitive answer on whether this project goes forward. do stay with us. we'll be right back. iotic cap ay helps defends against occasional constipation, diarrhea, gas and bloating. with three strains of good bacteria to help balance your colon. you had me at "probiotic." [ female announcer ] phillips' colon health. you had me at "probiotic." do you have an irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation, or afib,

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we're just 27 days from the iowa caucuses. mitt romney and newt gingrich talk about the donald.

>> this is a make or break moment for the middle class. >> i want to help every american have a better future. >> the philosophy is simple. we are better off when everybody is left to fend for themselves and play by their own rules. i am here to say they are wrong. >> what if they became assistant janitors and their job was to mop the floor and clean the bathroom. and you pay them. >> romney says, you don't understand the economy. and you can't recover it and grow it because you spent your entire life in professional politics. what is your answer? >>ture worst possible questioner. you can make an argument that i help romney get to be rif. >> we are just can you be firming that donald trump will moderate -- >> thank you, jesus! >> there ought to be a little bit of dignity. >> he is great. we have the world's null one rated -- having said that, he is a joke.

>> i spoke with donald trump earlier today. i indicated that we just can't make this debate. >> respectfully, he is down in the polls fairly substantially in a lot of ways. i would think that you would want to be on a debate like this because it would be very well covered. >> he understood my perspective and wishl me well. >> i think if you're afraid to debate with donald trump, people will say so you want me to believe you can debate barack obama? but you're afraid to show up with donald trump? >> i'll be on fox a lot. you guys matter when it comes to the republican primary voters. >> you can make the argument that i helped romney romney get to be rich. >> let's get right to our esteemed panel now. correspondent to the guardian. and michael erick dyson, scholar, author at georgetown university. if i can start with you, we've seen a bit of the back and forth there. the battle line being drawn in this election. newt gingrich helping mitt romney to get rich versus the

president's speech. mentioning the middle class 20 times. how will that go down? >> reporter: i think it will go down quite well with the people that vote in the general election. and the message that newt gingrich is giving out right now. i almost called him newt romney would be the ideal candidate, wouldn't it? when you look at what the primary voters, caucus voters want in iowa, they do seem to want a mix of the two. the recent "washington post" poll came out saying that they really liked newt's political experience and mitt romney's political economic experience. if you could meld them together, that would be a good candidate. obama was not talking to republican primary voters or iowa caucusgoers. he was to the vast majority of americans who considered themselves somewhat undecided in this election. and i think fairly negative of the president and are feeling really scared and worried about their place in history. >> can i bring in professor

dyson? newt said he helped bring down come 9/11 in congress. he's compared himself to the likes of winston churchill. now he is responsible for mitt romney's fortune, hundreds of millions. in the republican bonfire, does newt's flame burn the very brightest? >> i'm not sure tom wolf is the correct reference here. it has to be some rapper. with that, he's been listening to too much snoop dog. the reality is that all of this exaggerated i contintinerary is for the course. this is all much ado about nothing. it is remarkable that he is able to put forth this kind of argument as the basis and the predicate. the reality is he isheimer aggressive about the embrace of the riches, he wants to beat poor people up and make them work as janitors. he doesn't care about the middle class. in the meantime the president is here trying to hammer over 20 times,, i use about the middle class and god for bid, nobody is

speaking about the poor or the working poor in this country. so it is really the trickle down theory. what is trickling down on them is not grace but that other stuff that we know comes down as well. >> and is gingrich is leading romney by 15 points in gallup's national poll. that's a 15 point jump from just weeks ago. mitt is clearly beginning to pay attention. he has a new ad out from the romney campaign today. take a look. and then i would like to get your view of it. >> i think people understand that i'm a man of steadness and constancy. i've been married to the same woman for 25 -- excuse me. i'll get in trouble. 42 years. >> was that not the most direct attack on mr. gingrich's serial adultery and multiple marriages? >> that was a pretty direct attack. you could that get more direct unless you're a late night comedian, really. i think that's about as baldly as you'll put night political

ad. i think it's dangerous a little bit in iowa. you look at the polling. people don't really care about newt gingrich's marriages. actually, this same poll from before, only 16% of likely caucusgoers said that was a reason to vote against newt gingrich. about the same proportion by the way that found romney's religion as a reason to vote against him. so you're kind of playing with dangerous ground there when you start to write up this stuff. i think this is one election where even republicans, even heartland republican voter who we're used to seeing going with social conservative issues, they really care about the economy. they really care about herring. far morel voters said they would get against him. >> what that says, an excellent point. it suggests the willingness to tolerate the hypocritical gestures, if you will, of

morality here. when it is my guy, i don't care that he's had serial marriages. the very reason expression of morality that i vote when i was mad at bill clinton and wanted to impeach him. i don't care about newt gingrich. it is not so much a principled position though it may be that. but it is also the blinders as opposed to shape and size of a bedroom. it is all right when it come to the republicans but they hammer those who are on the other side of the aisle. i think we all need to say, look, it is about the economy, stupid. it is about the money and how can we address that issue. we know that the republicans at the most opportune time will pounce on some personal morality when it is to their advantage. >> if i can ask you to be brief, finally. professor dyson makes a good point. he is a point that they hammer these argument in addition very hypocritical manner. you talk about iowa. what about south carolina and florida? repeatedly talking about newt's

adultery doesn't go down well in those places. >> it's true. things will start to look very different when we start to go south in these polls, these primaries. i think that's when you're going to see mitt romney's religion play a role and you'll see these veiled attacks in the same way the attack from romney was very much veiled in talk b newt gingrich's marriages. an indirect hit. i think you might see indirect hits at romney. framing it in a very careful way but definitely trying to bring it to the surface. >> professor michael eric dyson, thank you for joining us. >> stay with us. first the market wrap. >> let's take a look at how stocks are doing right now. when we started the trading day, we are on shaky ground with all three. the dow jones industrial average currently up by about 80 points. the other two indices putting in marginal gains. that is it from cnbc.

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with elections coming fast and furious, millions of americans are preparing to have their voices heard. with two-thirds of state legislatures introducing laws that undermine the right to vote, many of those voices may fall silent. just this week, the naacp published a new report showing direct connections between increase in minority participation at the polls and attempts to suppress it ahead of upcoming elections. for more on this, i'm joined now in studio by john peyton, along with ben, president of the naacp who joins us from washington, d.c. garb good afternoon, gentlemen. if i can start with you, ben, i'm quoting you. we're in a moment right now where we're seeing the most aggressive attempt to roll back voting rights in this country

that we've ever seen in over a century. are you actually suggesting, sir, that this is a targeted, deliberate strategy to disenfranchise yes, that's -- t precisely what it is. >> explain. >> well, look, you know, you just go through law by law. they have come after early voters. voter registration, same thing. why would you do that? in places like maine it has dramatically expanded people's opportunities to sign up and vote. and then they come with voter i.d., you know, a so-called solution without a problem, you know, because they say that one is about voter fraud, but the reality is that voter fraud is

always a single or double-digit problem for the entire nation. george bush went five years with his doj focused on voter thought, found 86 cases and last year they found nine cases. heck, we've got prosecutors to handle that. why are you suppressing millions of people's votes making it harder for people to vote? people like the old ladies that we at the naacp have to help were born in the south 80, 90 years ago, the county courthouse with their voting record burned down and they will never be able to get a copy of their birth certificate. all of these folks, you know. >> john, how is this legal? i mean, i thought the right to vote was one of the most fundamental freedoms in this nation >> i think we all embrace this. in the 2008 election we were all proud that we had record turnout, across all races an age

groups. but to add to what ben just said, early voting is proportionally beneficial to minority groups. registration drives in florida turns out 20% of the ah can americans get registered to vote and only 6% of the white voters. the photo i.d. has a disproportionate effect on african-americans. that is far larger numbers of african-americans do not have driver's licenses than white americans. >> but some people are arguing against you would say, look, if you go to an airport you have to produce a fetto i.d. why shouldn't you have to produce a photo i.d. to vote. >> here's the reason. we had rules that said here's what you do to be registered to vote and millions and millions of people played by those rules and voted in 2008. we've now changed those rules, and the change in the rules has an effect on the people who in fact don't have driver's licenses. remember katrina six years ago we saw people in katrina, and i believe on this network and all networks, we heard people saying why don't those people just get

in their cars and drive out of there, and then in some embarrassing moment it dawned on everybody that those people, poor black people, who owned homes, did not own cars. they don't have driver's licenses. they have been voting for decades, and we've just changed the rules, and it's going to cause them not to be able to vote. we shouldn't do that in our democracy. >> afraid we've run out of time. apologize. thank you so much for doing joining us and throughout the week on "politics nation," tune in for the series of "block the vote," an investigation into new voting laws around the country. that's "politics nation" all week at 6:00 p.m. eastern, and we'll be right back. healthy can be fun. see? he's taking his vitamins. new one a day vitacraves plus omega-3 dha is a complete multivitamin for adults. plus an excellent source of omega-3 dha in a great tasting gummy. one a day, gummies for grown-ups.

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quite rightly been on the multiple victims who have come forward. jerry sandusky who has denied all the allegationed and just been re-arrested and those who we hope will bring those responsible for their christian, but the one issue that so many seemed so reluctant is the power and prestige that a university football team excerpts upon an institution and that's exactly what penn state's newly appointed president has just said. in an interview publish in "usa today," president rodney ericson said that he wanted to transform the public face of the university from being a football factory to that of an academic institution. we want that to be the front face of the university explained and hope that the sexual abuse scandal would add urgency to discussions about the role of big-time athletics and where they interact with higher education. universities are supposed to be centers of learning, renowned academic communities, where the brightest minds of the nation

forge new and exciting ways forward for everything from the development of artificial hearts, to understanding global economics. both crucial to the-in going prosperity of this nation, but what do we find? we find that in colleges the best paid member of staff is not the president but the football coach. witness the extortion salary of $5.5 million a year that's just been agreed with urban meyer at ohio state university, and with money goes immense power. it has since emerge that had long serving penn state coach joe paterno repeatedly clashed with the university's ethics and disciplinary officer when players breached accepted standards. in one e-mail vicky tripani reported that joe paterno believed she should have no interest or business holding our football players accountable to our community standards, and i think he was saying that we should treat football players

different from other students in this regard. and there's plenty of proof that this is already happening. players who are known to struggle academically have been allowed to cheat on tests and end up graduating with exlength degrees, players who are not supposed to benefit financially beyond the cost of their education end up receiving cars and money and who knows what else to help their families. the single argument that we keep hearing is that the football program is actually what keeps these institutions solvent and financially afloat. but in reality, and at penn state, it's the football program that's brought the institution to its knees, and that's why the new president is absolutely right in putting college sports in its proper perspective. it's also the least he can do given the growing accusations against jerry sandusky and those who allegedly covered up for him at penn state university.